EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - Adrian Peterson was placed on injured reserve Friday by the Minnesota Vikings, another sign that his time with the team could be over following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
NFL teams can pull one player off injured reserve per season, so the Vikings would be able to activate the leading rusher in franchise history sometime down the stretch if he were to heal swiftly. The likelihood of him returning this year, though, is slim given the typical recovery time for the injury he suffered last weekend in the game against Green Bay.
The move created an opening on the active roster the Vikings didn’t immediately fill.
Also Friday, left tackle Matt Kalil had surgery to repair a labrum tear in his right hip. He was operated on by team physician Dr. Chris Larson, who performed Peterson’s procedure at Twin Cities Orthopedics the day before. The Vikings called Kalil’s procedure successful, but he’ll miss the first game of his career Sunday when the Vikings (2-0) visit Carolina. Kalil, who will be replaced by T.J. Clemmings, also was placed on injured reserve.
Kalil struggled through the first two games at less than full strength. He has started all 66 games, plus two in the playoffs, since the Vikings made him the fourth pick in the 2012 draft out of USC. Kalil’s contract will expire after this season.
Three Vikings starters were sent into surgery this week.
Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd had an arthroscopic procedure to clean up cartilage damage in his right knee done Thursday by Dr. James Andrews. No timetable for his return has been provided by the team, but Floyd had a similar operation done last season on the left knee. He missed three four games then, and coach Mike Zimmer has not hidden his disappointment with Floyd’s inability to stay healthy.
Shamar Stephen has filled in for Floyd in the defensive line rotation.
“He’s getting better as a pass rusher. He’s played the run very well. He’s growing up. He’s talking a lot more,” Zimmer said. “Before you couldn’t hardly get any words out of him, so now he’s a lot more vocal. But he’s been playing good.”
The only good news on the injury front this week was the return of cornerback Xavier Rhodes (right knee) to practice. He was a limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but he’s on track to be available against the Panthers.
“I think there’s a good possibility,” Zimmer said. “We’ll see.”
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs suffered a groin injury this week that prompted the Vikings to keep him out of practice Friday, but Zimmer said that was a precautionary decision. Diggs was not listed on the injury report, meaning he will play on Sunday.
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